Child play pitcher-container set

ABSTRACT

A child play pitcher-container set includes a pitcher and a container that defines an interior volume and an upper rim. The pitcher includes a base upon which the pitcher is supportable, a side wall, and a handle. The side wall extends from the base and forms a spout extending outwardly to a spout tip at an upper edge of the side wall, the spout having an outer surface defining in side view a slope. The handle is secured to the side wall opposite the spout. The outer surface of the spout defines a notch extending across the spout at an elevation along the slope. The notch is configured to interface with the upper rim of the container during pouring of liquid from the pitcher to the container. The interior volume is sufficient to receive all liquid volume containable in the pitcher with the pitcher upright on a horizontal surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to child playcontainer sets.

BACKGROUND

Children can develop and learn motor skills by playing with toys thatmimic real-life objects. It is desirable that such toys be safe and easyto use.

SUMMARY

Implementations of the present disclosure include a child playpitcher-container set that includes a container defining an interiorvolume and having an upper rim, and a pitcher. The pitcher includes abase upon which the pitcher is supportable on a horizontal surface. Thepitcher also includes a side wall extending from the base and forming aspout extending outwardly to a spout tip at an upper edge of the sidewall. The spout has an outer surface defining in side view a slope. Thepitcher also includes a handle secured to the side wall opposite thespout, the handle defining an opening sized to receive a portion of ahand of a child for lifting the pitcher. The outer surface of the spoutdefines a notch extending across the spout at an elevation along theslope. The notch is positioned and configured to interface with theupper rim of the container during pouring of liquid from the pitcher tothe container. The interior volume is sufficient to receive all liquidvolume containable in the pitcher with the pitcher upright on ahorizontal surface.

In some examples, the interior volume is configured to be filled withall of the liquid volume containable in the pitcher.

In some implementations, the pitcher further includes a rim includingthe tip of the spout and a handle-side end opposite the tip of thespout. The rim defines in side view a slope between the tip of the spoutand the handle-side end such that the tip of the spout is verticallycloser to a horizontal surface supporting the pitcher than thehandle-side end of the rim.

In some cases, the slope between the tip of the spout and thehandle-side end forms an angle of between 10 and 15 degrees with thehorizontal surface supporting the pitcher.

In some examples, the rim of the pitcher is in top view ateardrop-shaped rim with the tip including an elongated corner extendingaway from the handle side end of the rim.

In some cases, the notch includes one of an L-shaped cross section or aC-shaped cross-section, extending laterally across a portion of thespout. In some examples, the notch includes a C-shaped cross section andthe container includes a container wall extending from a base of thecontainer to the upper rim, where the C-shaped cross-section of thenotch defines a concavity including a radius larger than a thickness ofthe container wall.

In some implementations, the notch is configured to engage the upper rimof the container during pouring of liquid from the pitcher to thecontainer to allow the pitcher to sit on the upper rim, the pitcherconfigured to rotate generally about the engaged notch to pour liquidfrom the pitcher to the container.

In some examples, the notch defines an arc as viewed from in front ofthe spout. The arc connects two opposite corners of the notch. In somecases, at least one edge of the notch is curved to generally follow aradius of the upper rim of the container as a portion of the upper rimis received in the notch.

In some cases, the handle is bonded to the surface of the side wall.

In some implementations, the handle is an O-shape handle arranged toextend away from the side wall, where the opening is configured toreceive at least four fingers of the hand of the child.

In some examples, the container includes a container wall including awall thickness substantially equal to a wall thickness of the side wallof the pitcher.

Implementations of the present disclosure further include a method ofchild-play using a pitcher-container set. The method includes pouring aliquid volume into a pitcher until the pitcher overflows, the pitchersupported upright on a horizontal surface. The pitcher includes a baseupon which the pitcher is supportable on the horizontal surface, a sidewall extending from the base and forming a spout extending outwardly toa spout tip at an upper edge of the side wall. The spout has an outersurface defining in side view a slope, with the outer surface of thespout defining a notch extending across the spout at an elevation alongthe slope. The notch is positioned and configured to interface with anupper rim of a container during pouring of liquid from the pitcher tothe container. The pitcher also includes a handle secured to the sidewall opposite the spout. The handle defines an opening sized to receivea portion of a hand of a child for lifting the pitcher. The method alsoincludes lifting the pitcher from the horizontal surface, and engagingthe notch of the pitcher with the upper rim of the container. Thecontainer includes an interior volume sufficient to receive all liquidvolume containable in the pitcher with the pitcher upright on thehorizontal surface. The method also includes rotating the pitcher aboutthe upper rim with the notch engaged to pour the liquid volume containedin the pitcher to the interior volume of the container.

In some examples, the pitcher further includes a rim including the tipof the spout and a handle-side end opposite the tip of the spout. Therim defines in side view a slope between the tip of the spout and thehandle-side end such that the tip of the spout is vertically closer to ahorizontal surface supporting the pitcher than the handle-side end ofthe rim. Pouring the liquid into the pitcher until the pitcher overflowsincludes pouring the liquid until liquid overflows from the tip of thespout.

In some implementations, rotating the pitcher includes rotating thepitcher about the upper rim to pour the liquid volume contained in thepitcher to the interior volume of the container to fill up the entireinterior volume of the container.

In some cases, the container includes a container wall extending from abase of the container to the upper rim, where the notch includes aC-shaped cross section extending laterally across a portion of thespout. The C-shaped cross-section of the notch defines a concavityincluding a radius larger than a thickness of the container wall, whererotating the pitcher includes rotating the pitcher as the upper rim ofthe container contacts a vertex of the concavity of the notch.

In some examples, the handle is an O-shape handle arranged to extendaway from the outer wall, where the opening is configured to receive atleast four fingers of the hand of the child. In such examples, liftingthe pitcher from the horizontal surface includes grasping the pitcher bythe handle.

In some implementations, the notch defines an arc as viewed from infront of the spout, the arc connecting two opposite corners of thenotch, at least one edge of the notch curved to follow a radius of theupper rim of the container as a portion of the upper rim is received inthe notch. In such implementations, rotating the pitcher includesrotating the pitcher with the notch receiving a portion of the upper rimof the container.

In some cases, engaging the notch includes moving the spout of thepitcher toward the upper rim until the outer surface of the spoutcontacts the upper rim, then sliding the outer surface of the spoutabout the upper rim until the notch receives the upper rim.

A child play pitcher-container set with a pitcher and a container havingequal or generally equal interior volumes allow a child to pour liquidfrom the pitcher into the container without overflowing the container. Apitcher with a notch at the spout of the pitcher allows a child to sitthe pitcher on the upper rim of the container to prevent the pitcherfrom slipping about the upper rim during pouring of liquid from thepitcher to the container. Engaging the notch with the upper ring of thecontainer can prevent spillage of liquid during the pouring.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side, cross-sectional view of a pitcher-container set.

FIG. 1B is a detail view of a portion of an example pitcher of thepitcher-container set of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the pitcher-containerset of FIG. 1A, with a notch of the pitcher engaged with the container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pitcher.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pitcher.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, a child play pitcher-container set 10includes a pitcher 12 and a container 14. Pitcher 12 has an interiorvolume 16 that contains, with the pitcher 12 upright on a horizontalsurface 70 (e.g., a substantially horizontal surface), a liquid volume60. As shown in FIG. 2, container 14 has an interior volume 22 that issufficient to receive all liquid volume 60 containable in pitcher 12with the pitcher 12 upright on horizontal surface 70. In someimplementations, interior volume 22 is configured to be filled with allof the liquid volume 60 containable in pitcher 12. By having an interiorvolume 22 that can receive all the liquid volume 60 from pitcher 12,container 14 allows a child to pour liquid from pitcher 12 intocontainer 14 without overflowing container 14.

Referring to FIG. 1A, container 14 has a base 21 upon which container 14is supportable on horizontal surface 70. Container 14 has a containerwall 23 that extends from base 21 to define, with base 21, interiorvolume 22. Container wall 23 extends from base 21 to an upper rim 20.Container wall 23 can have a wall thickness ‘t₁’ of about 3 mm.Container 14 (and upper rim 20) can have an outer radius ‘r’ of about34.5 mm. Container 14 can be a round container (e.g., a round cup), asquare container (not shown), or a container of any appropriate shape.

The pitcher 12 has a base 24 upon which pitcher 12 is supportable onhorizontal surface 70. Pitcher 12 also has a side wall 26 that extendsfrom base 24 to define, with base 24, interior volume 16. Side wall 26can have a wall thickness ‘t’ that is equal or substantially equal tothe wall thickness ‘t₁’ of container 14. Side wall 26 forms a spout 28that extends outwardly to a spout tip 30 at an upper edge of side wall26. Spout 28 has an outer surface 32 that defines, in side view, aslope. The slope of the outer surface 32 forms an angle ‘θ’ withhorizontal surface 70 with pitcher 12 supported upright on the surface.Angle ‘θ’ can be, for example, between 10 and 90 degrees.

Pitcher 12 further includes a handle 34 secured to side wall 26 oppositespout 28. As shown in FIG. 2, handle 34 defines an opening 36 sized toreceive a portion of a hand 50 of a child for lifting pitcher 12. Handle34 can be an O-shape handle arranged to extend away from outer wall 26,with opening 36 configured to receive at least four fingers of the hand50 of the child. Handle 34 can be bonded to the outside surface of outerwall 26. Handle can be a U-shape handle (not shown) or a handle of anyappropriate shape.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the outer surface 32 of spout 28 defines a notch40 or groove that extends across (e.g., laterally across) spout 28 at anelevation along the slope of outer surface 32. Referring also to FIG. 2,notch 40 is positioned and configured to interface with upper rim 20 ofcontainer 14 during pouring of substance (e.g., liquid, sand, or anypourable material) from pitcher 12 to container 14. As shown in FIG. 1A,notch 40 can have an L-shape cross-section extending laterally across aportion of spout 28. The L-shape cross-section can form an angle ‘a’ ofbetween 60 and 110, and more specifically between 85 and 100 degrees. Asshown in FIG. 2, notch 40 is configured to engage or receive upper rim20 of container 14 during pouring of liquid from pitcher 12 to container14. Upper rim 20 receives notch 40 to allow pitcher 12 to sit on upperrim 20 and prevent slipping of pitcher 12 about rim 20 during pouring ofliquid from pitcher 12. With notch 40 engaged with upper rim 20, pitcher12 can be rotated generally about the engaged notch 40 to pour liquidfrom pitcher 12 to container 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the L-shape cross-section of notch 40 has adepth that can help prevent the engaged notch 40 from disengaging fromrim 20 during the pouring of liquid. For example, notch 40 can have afirst straight side 61 and a second straight side 63 that extendinwardly from surface 32 of spout 28 to form a groove that allowspitcher 12 to firmly sit on rim 20 of container 14 during pouring ofliquid from pitcher 12. For example, the thickness ‘t₁’ of the containerwall 23 can be larger than a length ‘l₁’ of the first side 61 andsmaller than a length ‘l₂’ of the second side 63. For instance,container wall 23 can have a thickness ‘t₁’ of 3 mm, first side 61 canhave a length ‘l₁’ of 2.8 mm, and second side 63 can have a length ‘l₂’of 4.8 mm. Thus, notch 40 is configured to support spout 32 (withoutslipping) as pitcher 12 is full of water and is rotated between 0 and 90degrees (e.g., from a vertical position to a horizontal position) topour the water on container 14. The upper rim 20 of the container 14 cancontact at least one of the first and second sides 61 and 62 as pitcher12 is rotated to pour the liquid into container 12.

Referring to FIG. 1B, pitcher 12 can have a notch 40 a that has aC-shape cross-section or a semi-circular cross-section with a concavitywith a radius or inscribed radius greater than thickness ‘t₁’ ofcontainer 14. For example, the concavity of notch 40 a can have a radiusof 3.5 mm, with container 14 having a wall thickness ‘t₁’ of 3 mm. Notch40 a can have a depth ‘d’ of about 2.4 mm and a width ‘w’ of about 7 mm.With the concavity having a radius greater than the thickness of thecontainer wall, the upper rim of the container can contact a vertex ofthe concavity of the notch as liquid is poured from the pitcher to thecontainer.

Referring back to FIG. 1A, pitcher has an upper rim 18 that includes thetip 30 of spout 28, and a handle-side end 19 opposite tip 30. Rimdefines, in side view, a slope between tip 30 of spout 28 andhandle-side end 19 such that tip 30 is vertically closer to horizontalsurface 70 supporting pitcher 12 than handle-side end 19 of rim 18. Theslope of rim 18 forms an angle ‘β’ of between 5 and 45 degrees withhorizontal surface 70, with pitcher 12 supported upright on surface 70.In some examples, angle ‘β’ is preferably between 10 and 15 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, a child can use pitcher-container set 10 topour liquid volume 60 from pitcher 12 to container 14 withoutoverflowing container 14. To use the child play pitcher-container set10, a child can first pour liquid volume 60 into pitcher 12 (withpitcher 12 supported upright on horizontal surface 70) until pitcher 12overflows or right before pitcher 12 overflows. With spout tip 30 at alower elevation than handle-side end 19, the liquid overflows from tip30. The child lifts pitcher 12 from horizontal surface 70 by graspingthe pitcher 12 by the handle 34. The child can then engage notch 40 ofpitcher 12 with upper rim 20 of container 14. To engage notch 40 withupper rim 20, the child can move spout 28 of pitcher 12 toward rim 20until outer surface 32 of spout 28 contacts the rim 20 (or until notch40 receives upper rim 20) and then slide outer surface 32 of spout 28about rim 20 until notch 40 engages or receives upper rim 20. Uponengaging notch 40 with upper rim 20, the child can rotate pitcher 12about upper rim 20 with notch 40 engaged to pour liquid volume 60contained in pitcher 12 to interior volume 22 of container 14 to fill upthe container 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, upper rim 18 of pitcher 12 can be a‘teardrop-shaped’ upper rim 18 with a round handle-side end 19 and anelongated end or corner at the tip 30 extending away from handle-sideend 19. Tip 30 is at a lower elevation than the handle-side end 19 tolimit the fluid volume containable in the pitcher to an elevation of thetip 30 with the pitcher supported upright on the horizontal surface (seeFIG. 2). For example, filling up pitcher 12 until pitcher 12 overflowscan include pouring liquid into pitcher 12 until liquid overflows fromtip 30 of spout 28. Notch 40 can extend across the entire spout 28 oracross a portion of spout 28 at the elevation of the slope of the spout28. Base 24 of pitcher 12 can be a circular base with an outer diameterof about 69 mm.

Referring to FIG. 4, notch 40 defines an arc as viewed from in front ofthe spout. The arc connects two opposite corners 81 and 82 of notch 40.At least one edge of notch 40 is curved to generally follow the radiusof the upper rim of the container as a portion of the upper rim isreceived in notch 40. Notch 40 has two arched edges 71 and 72 meeting atand extending between opposite corners 81 and 82. Corners 81 and 82 canbe round corners at a higher elevation than a center point of upper edge71. Corners 81 and 82 can be located at a vertical distance ‘d’ from thetip 30 of about 13.6 mm. Notch 40 can have a length ‘L’ from corner 81to corner 82 of about 25.8 mm. At least one of the two arched edges 71and 72 of notch 40 can have a radius substantially equal to the radius‘r’ of the upper rim (see FIG. 1A) of the container, such that notch 40is configured to receive, between corners 81 and 82 and duringengagement of the upper rim, a portion of the upper rim (e.g., a portionof the circumference of the upper rim) of the container. For example,arched edge 71 can have a radius of 34.5 mm and the upper rim of thecontainer can have a radius ‘r’ (FIG. 1) of 34.5 mm.

While a number of examples have been described for illustrationpurposes, the foregoing description is not intended to limit the scopeof the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims.There are and will be other examples and modifications within the scopeof the following claims.

1. A child play pitcher-container set, comprising: a container definingan interior volume and having an upper rim; and a pitcher comprising, abase upon which the pitcher is supportable on a horizontal surface, aside wall extending from the base and forming a spout extendingoutwardly from a surface of the side wall to a spout tip at an upperedge of the side wall, the spout having an outer surface defining inside view a slope, and a handle secured to the side wall opposite thespout, the handle defining an opening sized to receive a portion of ahand of a child for lifting the pitcher; wherein the outer surface ofthe spout defines a notch extending across the spout at an elevationalong the slope between the surface of the side wall and the spot tip,the notch positioned and configured to interface with the upper rim ofthe container during pouring of liquid from the pitcher to thecontainer; and wherein the interior volume is sufficient to contain allliquid volume containable in the pitcher with the pitcher upright on ahorizontal surface.
 2. The child play pitcher-container set of claim 1,wherein the interior volume is configured to be filled with all of theliquid volume containable in the pitcher.
 3. The child playpitcher-container set of claim 1, wherein the pitcher further comprisesa rim comprising the tip of the spout and a handle-side end opposite thetip of the spout, the rim defining in side view a slope between the tipof the spout and the handle-side end such that the tip of the spout isvertically closer to a horizontal surface supporting the pitcher thanthe handle-side end of the rim.
 4. The child play pitcher-container setof claim 3, wherein the slope between the tip of the spout and thehandle-side end forms an angle of between 10 and 15 degrees with thehorizontal surface supporting the pitcher.
 5. The child playpitcher-container set of claim 3, wherein the rim of the pitcher is intop view a teardrop-shaped rim with the tip comprising an elongatedcorner extending away from the handle side end of the rim.
 6. The childplay pitcher-container set of claim 1, wherein the notch comprises oneof an L-shaped cross section or a C-shaped cross-section, extendinglaterally across a portion of the spout.
 7. The child playpitcher-container set of claim 6, wherein the notch comprises a C-shapedcross section and the container comprises a container wall extendingfrom a base of the container to the upper rim, and wherein the C-shapedcross-section of the notch defines a concavity comprising a radiuslarger than a thickness of the container wall.
 8. The child playpitcher-container set of claim 1, wherein the notch is configured toengage the upper rim of the container during pouring of liquid from thepitcher to the container to allow the pitcher to sit on the upper rim,the pitcher configured to rotate generally about the engaged notch topour liquid from the pitcher to the container.
 9. The child playpitcher-container set of claim 1, wherein the notch defines an arc asviewed from in front of the spout, the arc connecting two oppositecorners of the notch.
 10. The child play pitcher-container set of claim9, wherein at least one edge of the notch is curved to generally followa radius of the upper rim of the container as a portion of the upper rimis received in the notch.
 11. The child play pitcher-container set ofclaim 1, wherein the handle is bonded to the surface of the side wall.12. The child play pitcher-container set of claim 1, wherein the handleis an O-shape handle arranged to extend away from the side wall, andwherein the opening is configured to receive at least four fingers ofthe hand of the child.
 13. The child play pitcher-container set of claim1, wherein the container comprises a container wall comprising a wallthickness substantially equal to a wall thickness of the side wall ofthe pitcher.
 14. A method of child-play using a pitcher-container set,the method comprising: pouring a liquid volume into a pitcher until thepitcher overflows, the pitcher supported upright on a horizontalsurface, the pitcher comprising: a base upon which the pitcher issupportable on the horizontal surface, a side wall extending from thebase and forming a spout extending outwardly to a spout tip at an upperedge of the side wall, the spout having an outer surface defining inside view a slope, the outer surface of the spout defining a notchextending across the spout at an elevation along the slope, the notchpositioned and configured to interface with an upper rim of a containerduring pouring of liquid from the pitcher to the container, and a handlesecured to the side wall opposite the spout, the handle defining anopening sized to receive a portion of a hand of a child for lifting thepitcher; lifting the pitcher from the horizontal surface; engaging thenotch of the pitcher with the upper rim of the container, the containercomprising an interior volume sufficient to receive all liquid volumecontainable in the pitcher with the pitcher upright on the horizontalsurface; and rotating the pitcher about the upper rim with the notchengaged to pour the liquid volume contained in the pitcher to theinterior volume of the container.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinthe pitcher further comprises a rim comprising the tip of the spout anda handle-side end opposite the tip of the spout, the rim defining inside view a slope between the tip of the spout and the handle-side endsuch that the tip of the spout is vertically closer to a horizontalsurface supporting the pitcher than the handle-side end of the rim, andwherein pouring the liquid into the pitcher until the pitcher overflowscomprises pouring the liquid until liquid overflows from the tip of thespout.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein rotating the pitchercomprises rotating the pitcher about the upper rim to pour the liquidvolume contained in the pitcher to the interior volume of the containerto fill up the entire interior volume of the container.
 17. The methodof claim 14, wherein the container comprises a container wall extendingfrom a base of the container to the upper rim and wherein the notchcomprises a C-shaped cross section extending laterally across a portionof the spout, the C-shaped cross-section of the notch defining aconcavity comprising a radius larger than a thickness of the containerwall, and wherein rotating the pitcher comprises rotating the pitcher asthe upper rim of the container contacts a vertex of the concavity of thenotch.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the handle is an O-shapehandle arranged to extend away from the outer wall, wherein the openingis configured to receive at least four fingers of the hand of the child,and wherein lifting the pitcher from the horizontal surface comprisesgrasping the pitcher by the handle.
 19. The method of claim 14, whereinthe notch defines an arc as viewed from in front of the spout, the arcconnecting two opposite corners of the notch, at least one edge of thenotch curved to follow a radius of the upper rim of the container as aportion of the upper rim is received in the notch, and wherein rotatingthe pitcher comprises rotating the pitcher with the notch receiving aportion of the upper rim of the container.
 20. The method of claim 14,wherein engaging the notch comprises moving the spout of the pitchertoward the upper rim until the outer surface of the spout contacts theupper rim, then sliding the outer surface of the spout about the upperrim until the notch receives the upper rim.